Just Engaged? 10 Things To Do Now That You’re Planning A Houston Wedding
Congratulations! You and your partner just got engaged. Now what? If you've been dreaming about taking the next step to get married, that's great news! But planning a wedding can be overwhelming. The good news is that there are plenty of resources out there to help guide you through the process. And today I'm going to share some of my tips for getting started after an engagement:
Post your engagement on social media.
Now that you’re engaged, it's time to let the world know! Posting your engagement on social media is a great way to share the news with friends and family. Tag your fiancé in the post so they get some extra love too.
Now that everyone knows about your engagement, why not take advantage of this moment and tell them why you are getting married? Why do you love each other? What do you see as challenges for your future together? Let people know what makes this relationship so special!
Maybe even ask for help from others who have been there before (and may still be). You want to make sure everything goes smoothly on the big day—you don't want an unexpected hiccup ruining everything!
Figure out a budget.
If you’re planning a wedding, the first step is to figure out your budget and how much money you want to spend. There are many different ways people choose to do this:
Set a date and then come up with some sort of budget based on that date
Find a venue that's within your desired budget range. Also, see what services are included in the venue's pricing.
Look at other weddings in your price range and see what they did (and didn’t do)
Pick a number that sounds good and work backwards from there
Once you have an idea of what your budget is, it’s time to start making lists! Assemble all the things that will be necessary for your big day—the venue, food & drink, entertainment—and then add any other items that might be important to you. Is cost an issue? Then consider having an intimate ceremony at home instead of going out for dinner afterward. Do you have children who will be in attendance? Then maybe it makes sense not only having them wear their best clothes but also hiring professional photographers so those memories aren't lost forever (or at least until Facebook becomes sentient).
Narrow down your Houston wedding venue options.
You want a venue that is big enough to accommodate your guest list, but small enough to feel intimate. Ideally, the space should have some kind of open concept so you can see what everyone is doing at any given time—which is especially important if you're planning on having a live band or other entertainment. You want a place where everyone will be able to hear each other and enjoy themselves.
The next step is making sure that this place fits with the rest of your vision for the day—in terms of both style and function. If you're looking for something modern or rustic, it's best not to book an old historic building if that's not what you're going for in general (not only will it clash with everything else about your wedding day; it may also make guests uncomfortable). And if there's no way around using an older building then try choosing one with modern amenities like air conditioning! There are lots of gorgeous historic buildings in Houston available now with great amenities like handicap access ramps and elevators so don't let location stop from finding exactly what works best for YOU!
Set your wedding date.
Choosing the right wedding date is important. If you're having a large wedding, it's best if the ceremony doesn't coincide with other events already on your family's calendar. You don't want to ask your parents or grandparents to plan two parties in one month, as that could be exhausting for them!
If you'd like some guidance on choosing the perfect time for your big day, take a look at these tips:
Consider how many people will be attending. Your guests may be traveling from far away and need enough notice to book their flights and accommodations. There are also those who have children in school who cannot make arrangements easily during certain periods of time (especially late spring and summer).
Don't choose a holiday weekend unless it's critical for your budget (and even then, be sure that everyone involved understands why). It can be very tricky getting people off work during this type of event because employers usually require proof from employees before granting any days off around major holidays such as Thanksgiving and Christmas/New Year's Eve/Day; moreover, many businesses lock down their calendars two years out so they can plan accordingly!
Tell the people who will be in your wedding party.
Did you know that about 80 percent of brides have a wedding party?
It's important to choose people who are special to you, and not just your friends. This will help them feel like part of the day, and they'll be able to help keep you on track throughout the planning process. Your bridal party can be bridesmaids, groomsmen, honor attendants or even more: it's up to you!
When choosing your bridal party, it's important to think about their personalities and how they will fit in with your big day. If you're looking for someone who can help keep things lighthearted during the ceremony or reception, then a good choice may be a funny friend or family member.
P.S. Make sure to throw a lil celebration for them being a apart of your big day!
Start a wedding planning binder or utilize a wedding planning online tool.
It's important to keep track of all the things you need to do, especially if you're like me who would forget my own name unless it was written down somewhere. You can use a physical binder or even just create an Excel spreadsheet on your computer. But make sure that whatever system you choose is easy for everyone else involved in the wedding (like parents, wedding planner, and attendants) to access as well.
If you're more tech-savvy than binder-savvy, there are also many really awesome apps that were made specifically for planning weddings! Some favorites include Aisle Planner, Zola, and Wedding Wire, The Knot Wedding Planner App, and The Wedding Organizer App.. All of them have a wide variety of features including task management tools/checklists/organization methods which will help anyone stay organized during this busy time!
Meet with your fiancé’s parents, if they aren’t already involved in the planning process.
Your fiancé has probably spoken with their parents about his or her marriage plans. If not, then it is up to you to understand what they'd like to see as well.
When meeting with your future mother-in-law and father-in-law (or stepmothers and stepfathers), remember to be respectful of their opinions and ideas; after all, they are going to become part of your “new family” soon enough! Also remember that if either set of parents has not been involved in the planning process so far, ask them what they would like their participation in the wedding day itself would be like: maybe they would like help decorating tables at the reception hall or maybe they want nothing more than being able to enjoy watching from afar as their son/daughter walks down the aisle toward them.
Schedule an appointment with a wedding planner/consultant.
If you're like most couples, you'll want to hire a wedding planner. A good one can save you time and money by helping to reduce the stress of planning your own wedding day. You'll also need someone who can manage all of the details so that they don't fall through the cracks or get overlooked.
While there are many types of wedding planners out there (depending on what kind of experience they have in their field), most will do something similar: coordinate with vendors on your behalf; handle vendor payments; organize your guest list; send out invitations and thank-you notes; create timelines for all aspects of your big day; coordinate with caterers and other vendors during set up at the venue; plan transportation for guests from hotels/rental cars/private shuttles etc.; get guests seated at tables according to their seating chart assignments before dinner begins etc.; make sure that everything runs smoothly throughout the day!
Asking yourself these questions will help you find a great fit: What type of services do I need? How much am I willing to spend? Should we work together? Do I trust my consultant enough for them not only provide recommendations but also make final decisions when it comes down it?".
Start researching Houston wedding vendors (photographers, caterers, cake bakers, florists and more).
One of the best ways you can prepare for a stress-free and successful event is by taking the time to research local vendors now.
Start by making a list of preferred vendors (this should include caterers, cake bakers, florists and more). Once you have this list in hand, start looking up their reviews online and asking friends for recommendations on who they've hired before. This way when someone asks if they can refer someone good at catering weddings (for example), you'll already have several names ready!
Also don't be afraid to ask them questions about how much they charge because some places might try charging more than others do just because they know how much demand there may be during certain times of year (like Valentine’s Day or Labor Day weekend).
Decide on a style for your Houston Wedding.
If you don't have a vision for the look of your Houston wedding, now is the time to start nailing it down. The style of wedding you choose will reflect your personalities and interests as well as fit with your budget and venue. Take time to consider what kind of theme would be most meaningful for YOU - maybe it's a vintage-inspired affair or something more modern, but whatever it is, embrace that!
That’s it! You are officially engaged and the planning process has begun. As you can see, there are a lot of things to consider when planning a wedding. But don’t worry—we have plenty of resources for you to turn to as you move forward in your journey toward wedded bliss. We wish you all the best on this exciting adventure!
Talk with a professional wedding planner today!
At Courtney Morris Collective, our purpose is to offer you a wedding experience that uniquely showcases who you are as a couple - with seamless planning and effortless design. Everything we do is to provide you with exceptional service from start to finish. We are here to help you turn your dream wedding into a reality. We’ll be by your side every step of the way, as we execute your exact wedding vision.
We would love the opportunity to speak with you in regards to your upcoming nuptials. Reach out to us by booking a Phone Consultation or feel free to email us at info@courtneymorriscollective.com.
We look forward to hearing from you! Happy Planning!